FBI agents searched the home of a Los Angeles deputy mayor as part of an investigation into a bomb threat to City Hall, officials said Wednesday.

Agents searched the home of Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Brian Williams on Tuesday while investigating a bomb threat Williams “allegedly made against City Hall earlier this year,” said Zach Seidl, a spokesman for Mayor Karen Bass.

In a separate statement, Los Angeles police identified Williams as the “likely” source of the bomb threat.

“Earlier this year, the LAPD responded to a bomb threat against Los Angeles City Hall,” the department’s statement said. “Our initial investigation determined that the source of the threat likely came from Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Brian Williams. Because of the Department’s working relationship with Mr. Williams, the investigation was referred to the FBI. The FBI remains the investigating agency.”

Williams was placed on leave, said Seidl, who declined to provide further details.

“The mayor is taking this matter very seriously,” he said. “When the threat was reported, the LAPD investigated and determined there was no immediate threat. After further investigation, the LAPD referred this matter to the FBI for further investigation.”

Williams could not immediately be reached for comment.

FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller declined to comment, saying the agency cannot confirm or deny an investigation.

Peggy Names, who lives next door to Williams’ home in Pasadena, said she was shocked by the investigation.

“He’s not capable of that. It’s ridiculous. They must have the wrong Brian Williams, I’m sure,” she said. “They are a wonderful family, they go to church every Sunday, they are sincere pillars of the community and we have enjoyed having them as our neighbors for over 20 years.”

Names said neither she nor her husband saw police activity at Williams’ home Tuesday.

“We’re retired, so we get up early and we’re home all day, and we haven’t seen or heard anything, and I have a feel for that,” she added.

Williams has spent nearly two years as deputy mayor in Bass’ office, dealing with issues such as police hiring, public safety spending and the search for a new police chief. He previously held various government positions over more than three decades.

Williams served as deputy mayor in the administration of Mayor James K. Hahn, holding office from 2001 to 2005. Previously, Williams served as an assistant district attorney in Los Angeles for several years.

According to his LinkedIn page, Williams served as executive director of the Los Angeles County Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission from 2016 to 2023.

Williams worked in Bass’ office and supervised the city’s police, fire, harbor police, airport police and emergency management agency, according to his hiring notice.